title: Heterologous expression, characterization and evaluation of the matrix protein from Newcastle disease virus as a target for antiviral therapies.
abstract: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an infectious agent of a large variety of birds, including chicken, which poses a real threat to the agriculture industry. Matrix (M) proteins of NDV and many other viruses perform critical functions during viral assembly and budding from the host cell. M-proteins are well conserved and therefore are potential targets for antiviral therapies. To validate this, we expressed the NDV M-protein in its native form in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. Proper refolding of the recombinant protein produced in E. coli was verified using circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopies and electron microscopy. Immunization of chickens with the NDV M-protein elicited significant serum antibody titers. However, the antibodies conferred little protection against the ND following lethal viral challenges. We conclude that the M-protein is not exposed on the surface of the host cell or the virus at any stage during its life cycle. We discuss how the conserved M-protein can further be exploited as an antiviral drug target.
authors.forename: Nida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iram
authors.forename: Muhammad Salahuddin
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Fouzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ismat
authors.forename: Mudasser
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Mazhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: S Samar
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hasnain
authors.forename: Moazur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins